DUBAI// Hollywood star Susan Sarandon has officially opened a new franchise in a giant glass pyramid which features a golden VIP table tennis table.
Her SPiN Dubai is the latest addition to the city’s nightlife scene.
Academy Award-winner Sarandon visited the emirate this week to launch SPiN Dubai, her newest table tennis club franchise that she believes has what it takes to mix with the city’s more traditional hotspots. “This club has much more of a nightclub feel than the ping-pong clubs we have in the States – it’s very lavish,” she said.
“We want the clubs to reflect the city they are in – the golden table is not something you’re going to find in Milwaukee.
“Dubai is such a futuristic and amazing city that I think it will work well here.”
The club, at The Pyramids in Wafi, opened on Wednesday night with guests trying their hand at the game between mingling.
“This is something very new to Dubai and I think people will enjoy it,” said Marianne Zeynalova.
“You get nightclubs all around the world but I’ve never seen anything like this.”
Her friend Alena Gromova agreed: “This is something I would like to bring my friends to, where we can socialise in a nice atmosphere.”
“There is a unique atmosphere because you are socialising in a completely different way than at a normal nightclub,” said Sarandon. “It doesn’t matter if you’re good at the game or not, it’s a great way to interact with people.”
It’s the social aspect of the game that the club’s parent company, SPiN Galactic, hope will prevent it from being a flash in the pan.
“It’s very addictive,” said Jonathan Bricklin, SPiN Galactic’s co-founder.
The 11 table tennis tables are watched over by staff who have been trained by professional players.
“We have a centre court area that also doubles as the dance floor. When we have competitions we can pull out the table,” said a member of staff.
"We also have a VIP section with a gold frame table and net, which I don't think any other clubs have."
nhanif@thenational.ae
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Disability on screen
Empire — neuromuscular disease myasthenia gravis; bipolar disorder; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Rosewood and Transparent — heart issues
24: Legacy — PTSD;
Superstore and NCIS: New Orleans — wheelchair-bound
Taken and This Is Us — cancer
Trial & Error — cognitive disorder prosopagnosia (facial blindness and dyslexia)
Grey’s Anatomy — prosthetic leg
Scorpion — obsessive compulsive disorder and anxiety
Switched at Birth — deafness
One Mississippi, Wentworth and Transparent — double mastectomy
Dragons — double amputee
Profile
Company name: Jaib
Started: January 2018
Co-founders: Fouad Jeryes and Sinan Taifour
Based: Jordan
Sector: FinTech
Total transactions: over $800,000 since January, 2018
Investors in Jaib's mother company Alpha Apps: Aramex and 500 Startups
Fire and Fury
By Michael Wolff,
Henry Holt
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hoopla%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDate%20started%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMarch%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Jacqueline%20Perrottet%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2010%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPre-seed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20required%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%24500%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
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SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now